Drain valve control means



June 17', 1941. C, "C, FARMER 2,246,202

DRAIN VALVE CONTROL MEANS,

Filed April 2s', 1940 CLYDE C. FARMER ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED sTA'rE'srATENT OFFICE DRAIN VALVE CONTROL MEANS` Clyde C. Farmer, Pittsburgh, Pa., assgnor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation `of Pennsylvania Application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,143

1s claims.v Erol.' 137-21) This invention relates to automatic-drain Valvey devices, and more particularly to a drain valve device for use in the drainage system of a refrigerator car and which is automatically operative to retain the drainage system closed so long as the car is in motion. t f

In the cooling system ofY refrigerator cars, and respecially in those systems where'saltv is used with ice in the ice bunkers, the drain for disposing of the salt Water drippin-gs orbrine toV the exterior of the car is usually located at vthe end of and to one side of the car. When'salt water drippings or-brine is permitted to flow from the drain While the car is traveling over the road, air currents will carry the drippings or brine to many of the metallic parts of the car and railway track, such for instance as the truck parts and to the rail surfaces. The salt in the brine accelerates corrosion ofthe metallic parts with which it comes in Contact, resulting in damage to these parts and thus increases maintenance costs. i y t if Theprincipal object of the presentinvention is to provide an automatic drain valve apparatus for the drain of a refrigerator vehicle or the like which is operative While vthe vehicle is in transit to maintain the drain closed and oper` ative to open the drain and permit drainage when the vehicle is traveling at a very slow speed or is at rest. t'

This object is accomplished in the presentY emc bodiment of the invention by a drain valve `apparatus having a hydraulic pump, which .isresponsive to the usual shocks or vibration to which a vehicle is subjected in actual service for automatically closing and maintaining. closed,y the` drain at all times while the vehicle is in transit, and which is automatically operative to cause the drain `to open and .permit `drainage from the` system when the vehicle is traveling at a very slow speed, such as when it is Abeing brought ,L to rest, or when it is at rest. v

Other objects and advantages will iappear* in the following more detail` description of theinvention. l Y f A, Q

InY the accompanying drawing Fig...,1is`a ksectional .view showing- .a ,drain valve "apparatusfemv bodyingmy invention. u Y, f

Fig. 2 isa view in outline showing the' drain. valve ..apparatus V.embodying myA inventionA at-if tached to a car.

As shown in Figs. 1, and"2 of the. drawing, they, drain valve apparatus comprises', a hydraulic. pump portion I and adrainvalve portion 2, .both of which are provided with mounting lugs 3 for-v IDF.

attaching the apparatus to the under sidefofa refrigerator-car body vin a manner such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.v`

The hydraulic pump portion I comprises an i: upper section 4, a lower section 5 and an intermediate section 6, which sections are securedvv together in 4any suitable manner. The upper section 4 is of 'tubular form having anOpenup-l per end which is normally closed by a closure cap: 1 which has screwethreaded connectioniwith the section. VThe mounting lugs 3 hereinbeforel mentioned formounting the hydraulic portion I to the car are located at the upper end of 'this' sectionA and areformed integral therewith.; t

The intermediate Section5 comprises a circular portion which adjacent Aits periphery is clamped between the sections l4 and 5. This portionv together with section 4 and cap 'I' define vachamber' 8 for the reception of pump kactuatirigniearis hereinafter described in detail. CarriedV by the circular 'portion' and 'depending'. downwardlytherefrom "is a'pump cylinder '19 which isopenfat' its upper end'to' the chamber" 8. The.' bottom' wall oi the cylinder is provided with an inlet port II) which communicates with a chamber I-I defined by the casing sections 5rand 6, therebeing a check valve 29 in the cylinder for control-' ling communication through the port 10.

Leading from the 'interior'of the pump cylinderv Bis Aapassage I2'which isv connected to a passage'. I3 in the section 5. This latter passage leads to a diaphragm chamber I4 located at one side of a iiexible ldiaphragm I5 clamped to the 'section 5 by aicover portion I 6, which cover and diaphragm define a chamber I1. Interposed in the passage I2 and so arranged as to prevent Aflow 'from .theV diaphragm chamber I4 tothe cylinder 9 there .isl provided a ball 'check valveY I8 which isurged'to.

its seat by a spring I9.

Disposed in chamber II at one side of the` diaphragm I 5 there is provided a diaphragm follower 2I having a stem 22 which extends to the exterior of the-cover portion I5 through'an aperture V24.v The clearance between stem 22 and lthe walls of the aperture 24 is suiiicient toV insure the chamber I'I remaining at atmospheric pressure. VDisposedin chamber I4 at the opposite side ofthe diaphragmy I5 there is provided a` diaphragm follower 25 which is attached to the diaphragm and diaphragm follower 2| byifneans of a nut 26 which has screw-'threaded yengagement with a stem prejecting vfrom the follower 22 through the diaphragm I5 and diaphragm follower 25, `so that lthe diaphragm and diaphragmV followers 2t and 25 will move'as a unit. Cone tained in chamber I1 is a spring 21 which is interposed between and operatively engages the diaphragm follower 2| and the inner wall of the cover I6 which spring at all times tends to urge the diaphragm assembly to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Operatively mounted in the pump cylinder 9 is a piston or plunger 30 having a stem 3| which extends into the chamber 8 and which carries, at its end, an actuating element 32 which, in the present embodiment of the invention, is in the form of a metal weight 33 preferably formed integral with the plunger stem 3|. This weight is yieldin-gly suspended from the cap 1 by means of a spring 35. One end of the spring 35 is secured to an eye bolt 36 havingV screw-threaded engagement with the metal weight 33 and the other end attached to an eye bolt 31,` which extends through the cap 1 and has the head thereof riveted over, as shown in the drawing.

' It is apparentV from the foregoing, that when the hydraulic pump portion I is mounted on a car, the usual shocks and vibration to which the car isAsubJ'ected in actual service will cause the spring suspended metal `weight 33 to more or less' constantly'move up and down, thus causing the piston or-plunger 30 to reciprocatewithin the 'cylinder 9, the spring 35 acting to insure the upward movement of the Weight and thereby the piston or plunger 30 relative to the lcylinder 9. The body section 4 is provided with longitudinally extending members 38 for gui-ding the weight'j33 in its travel, which members are provided with stop shoulders 39 to limit the Vupward movement of the metal weight 33, movement of the weight in the opposite direction being limited by" theY circular wallportion of the intermediate body section with which the weight engages.Y

l'I'l'ieffchan'iberl II formed in the lower body sectionn 5' of 'the casing is provided with an oil filling opening 49, through which'the chamber I I is'lnormallyV lled to the approximate oil level indicated inthe drawing, the Vopening being normally closed by a cap 4| having screw-threaded engagement with the casing.

The drain valve portion 2 comprises a casing having an upper tubular section 43 which is provided at its upper end lwith a mounting bracket 3 for attachment with a suitable part of the "car lfloor and having further a lower tubular body section 44'. The casing sections are secured together by bolts 46 which extend through lugs 41'provided on both sections of the casing and which when thus secured forma chamber 49 therein, there beingv a gasket 45 interposed between the casing sections 43 and 44. The chamber 48 is vin constant communi c'ation'with the" usual drain communication 49 leading from the cooling compartment of a refrigerator car, through a cap 50 which is screwthreaded into the upper open end of 'the chamber48.V

VThe bottom` of the chamber is provided with a release or discharge passage 5| which may-be closed by a valve 52, which Vvalve'is adapted to seat on a valve seat 53 formed on anY annular shoulder- 54 provided on the bottom wallY of `the body casing section 44. At an intermediate point in the chamber 48 one or more ribs 55 exten laterally from the inside ofthe casing section 43and'form a central springy seat 56 for the upper end offa' spring 51. The other end of lthis spring seats'on the valve 52, which springl at all-times ,tendsto urge the valve 52 intorseating engagement Withits seat 53. Y y

The valve 52 is provided with a fluted stem 58 having an extension 59 which is secured to one end of a vertically disposed link 69 by means of a pin 6I. The opposite end of the link 60 is connected to the outer end of a horizontally disposed arm of a bell crank lever 52, which is pivot'ally connected to a lug 63 projecting from the exterior of, the cover I6 on .the hydraulic pump portion I. The other arm 64 of the bell crank lever 62 is vertically disposed and the outer end thereof is forked to receive the end of the diaphragm follower stem 22 which stem and forked end are operatively connected together by means of a pin 65. The points oi connection may be slotted to permit relative movement between parts.

VIn the present embodiment of the invention ther hydraulic pump portion I Iand the drain valve portion 2 are separate, however, it will be understood, that the two portions may be formed in one` structure if it is: so desired.

Operation Assuming that the vehicle to which the automatic drain valve apparatus is applied is at rest, at which time, the several parts of the apparatus will be in the position inwhich they are shown in the drawing. It will be observed that the weight -33 and lattached piston or plungerSIJ will be held at rest, suspended by the spring 35, so that it will not actto displaceliquid from the cylinder 9 into the diaphragm chamber I4. However, the liquid supplied to chamber is free to flow therefrom through the passage 51 of small diameter to the chamber I4.

The spring 21 contained in chamber I1 and acting on one side of the flexible diaphragm I5 is sufficient to maintain thediaphragm flexed to the left, as shown, against the opposing preesure of theliquid in chamber I4 'at the'opposite side of the diaphragm and spring 51 acting on the unseated valve 52. The spring 21 thus acts through the medium of the diaphragm, diaphragm follower, follower stem, bell crank lever 'and link to maintain the valve 52 open as shown.

Whenthe apparatus is so positioned the usual drain communication 49 leading from the cooling compartment of the refrigerator car is connected to the atmosphere, by way of chamber 48, past valve 52, through release or discharge passage 5I, so that drainage from the cooling system is free to ow by gravity to the atmosphere.

When the car is put in motion the spring suspendedmetal weight 33 for actuating the pump will be caused to move up and down, thus causing the piston or plunger 30 toreciprocate within the cylinder 9. When this occurs the piston or plunger 30 on its suction or upward stroke sucks oil from the chamber II through port I0, pastrball check valve 2|! tothe cylinder 9. It might be here mentioned that the portion of the chamber II above the oil lever is connected to chamber 8 by way of la passage 66 to insure chamber II remaining at atmospheric pressure.

' The ball check valve 20 is adapted `to close the communication through port I0 from chamber II tothe cylinder 9l upon vthe, completion of thesuction or upward stroke of the piston or plunger 30. Upon initial movement of the piston vorjplunger 3|) Ain its compression or .downward stroke .the ball check valve 20 is forced more firmly toits seat andthe fluid within the cylinder 9 is forced past ball .check valvelI'B into passage I2 and conducted by way of passa-ge I3 to thediaphragm `Chanibel I4, from whence itis returned to chamber II byway ofpassage 61. On each successive suctionstroke ofthe piston or :plunger 30-r the check valve I8 is seated by spring I9 and as a result, the pressure Within the diaphragm cham- 'ber I4 increases and the oil supplied to the chamber causes the diaphragm I5 to ex to theA right against the action of .the spring 21, because the capacity of the pump is many times the flow capacity of the passage I'I.` When the diaphragm is flexed tothe right it acts through the medium of the diaphragm followers 2| and 25, follower stem 22, bell crank lever hav-ing arms 64 and 62 and links B .to move the valve 52 toward engagement lwith its seat 53, permitting the spring 51 to maintain the valve 52 seated, thus cuttingoff communication between the usual drain communication 49 and the atmosphere, through release or discharge passage 5|.

vSo long as the car is in motion, the valve 52 will remain closed and any drainage from the usual drainage communication 49 leading from 'the cooling compartment of the car, will be trapped in the chamber -48 of the drain valve portion 2. f f f When the car is traveling at a very slow speed such Aas when being brought .to or is at rest, movement of the weight 33 will stop, and the sprin-g 35 will again suspend the weight 33 and attached piston or plung-er 30 in its upper position as shown, thus cutting off the supply of liquid to the diaphragm chamber I4. -When this occurs the passage 61 connecting chambers I4 and I I will permit the fluid under pressure acting on the diaphragm I4 to flow to the chamber I I, and spring 21 Will then flex the diaphragm I5 tothe left, which as hereinbefore described, causes the valve 52 to open. With .the car at rest and the valve 52 open any ydrainage accumulated in chamber 48 will now be released to the atmosphere.

It will be seen that this drain valve apparatus operates automatically to drain'the cooling system of a refrigerator car asthe car is brought to rest and operates to maintain the drain closed when the car is in motion, and that it is a relatively simple apparatus requiring no attention on the part of the train crew.

While the automatic drain valve apparatus has for `illustra-tive purposes been shown exteriorly of the car it is contemplated that it may also be used interiorly of a car.

While one embodiment of the drain valve apparatus provided by my invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these details of construction, and that numerous chan-ges and m'odifcaions may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having no-w described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a drainage system for draining liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, means operative to either open or close said communication, and means operative automatically only When the vehicle is in transit for eii'ecting the operation of the rs-t mentioned means to close said communication and operative automatically only when the vehicle is brought to rest for effecting the operation of the rst mentioned means for opening said communication.

2. In 'a drainage system for drainin-g liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising -a drainage discharge communication, pressure responsive means operative to either open orclose rvsaid communication, land means operative automatically only when the vehicle vis in transit for effect-ing the operation of said pressure responsive means to close said communication and operative only when the vehicle is brought to `rest for effecting the operation of the pressure responsive means for opening said communication.

3. In a drainage system for drain-ing liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising a -drainage discharge communication, hydraulically actuated means operative to either open or close said communication,V and means operative automatically only when the vehicle is in transit for veffecting the operationv of Isaid hydraulic-ally actuated mean-s to close said communication and operative only when the vehicle is brought to rest for eiiecting the operation of the hydraulically actuated means for opening said communication.

4. In a drainage system lfor draining liquid,` from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle of the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, means operative to either open orclcse said communication, and inertia actuated means operative automatically only when the vehiclefis in motion for eiTecting the operation of the means to close said-communication and operative onlyv when the vehicle' is at rest for effecting the operation of the means for opening .said communication.

V5. In a drainage system for draining liquidifrom the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the `like comprising a vdrainage discharge communication, means operative to either open or Yclose said communication, `and means including anv inertia actuated pump operative automatically only When the vehicle is in motion for effecting the operation of the lmeans to close said communication and-operative only when` the vehicleis at rest for effecting the operation of the means for opening 'said communication.

6. In a drainage system for draining liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, means operative to either open or close said communication, a pump operative only when the vehicle is in motion for. effecting the operation ,ofthe means to close said communication and operative only when the vehicle is at yrest for effecting the operation of the means to open saidk communication, and Yinertia actuated lmeans forv actuating said pump, said inertia actuated means comprising a Vyielclingly suspended weight responsive to the usual shocks to whichthevehicle is subjected in transit.

'7. In a drainage system for draining liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, means operative to either open or close said communication, a pump operative only when the vehicle is in motion for effecting the operation of the means to close said communication and operative only when the vehicle is' at rest for effecting the operation of the means to open said communication, and inertia actuated means for actuating said pump, said inertia actuated means comprising a yieldingly suspended weight responsive to the usual shocks to which the vehicle is subjected in transit, and means for limiting the travel of said weight.

8. In a drainage system for draining liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, pressure responsive means operative to eltlier'open` or closeA said communication, a hydraulic pump for-'effecting the operationv of the pressure responsive means, said pressurer responsive means being operative to close said communication While the pump is operating and operative to open said communication while the pump is at rest, and inertia actuated means for actuating said pump while lther vehicle is in transit. l Y

9. 'In a drainage system for draining liquid from the interior of a refrigerator vehicle or the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, a valve operative to either open or close said communication, pressure responsive means operative automatically for controlling the operation of said valve, andv means including a pump yoperative when the vehicle is in transit for effecting the' operation of the pressure responsive means to cause operation of said valve to close said communication, said means being rendered inoperative vvhen the vehicle is brought to VVrest for effecting .the operation of the pressure responsive means to cause said valve to open said communi.-

cationi f 10. In a drainage systemvfor draining liquid from the interior of a refrigeratorV vehicle or the like comprising a drainage' discharge communication, al valve operative to either open or 'close said communication, means including an inertia actuated pump operative While the vehicle is in transit and inoperative While the vehicle'is being brought to rest,said means being responsive to the usual shocks to which the Vehicle is subjected in transit for supplying fluid under pressure, pressure responsive means comprising a movable abutment responsive to the pressure of fluid supplied by said pump for effecting operation of said valve to close said communication and subject to the pressure of `a spring for effecting operation of said valve to open said'communication, and means for reducing the pressure of fluid acting on said abutment when the pump is brought to rest.

11. In a drainage system for draining liquid from the interior of a refrigeratorvehicle or the like comprising a drainage dischargev communication, a valve operative to either open or close said communication, a pump comprising a cylinder having van inlet port and an outlet port, a pump plunger operatively mounted in said cylinder for rst drawing fluid through said inlet port tothe cylinder and for then forcing the fluid from the cylinder through said outlet port, means comprising an inertiaV element automatically operative When the vehicle is in transit for operating the pump and rendered inoperative to operate the pump when the car is brought to rest, means anchoa includinga movable Aabutment @responsivel to the pressure'of flu-id supplied by saidpump when operating forl effecting vthe `operation Vof* said valve to close said communication, and responsive to the pressure of a spring upon a reduction in the pressure-of fluid acting on the abutment for effecti'ngroperation of said Valve to close said communication, and means for relieving the pressure of uid acting on said abutment when said pump is stopped. l j -v 'f 12. In a drainage systemrfor draining liquid from the interior of a'refrigerat'or vehicle orv the like comprising a drainage discharge communication, in combination, a drain valve apparatus including'a pump comprising' afcasing having a pump chamber and an oill supplyv chamber, said pump chamber having an inlet port' through which oil is supplied from said oil chamber to said pump chamber andan outlet passage through which oil is dischargedfromsaid pumpl chamber, a pump plunger operatively mounted in said pump chamber, means included in said pump operative on the suction stroke of said plungerV for opening said inlet port and closing'said outlet port to reverse flow to the'punp chamber and operative on the compression stroke torclose' said inlet port and permit the flow of oil through said outlet port, means comprising an"inertia element automatically operative When'th'e car is' in transit for operating said pump'and rendered inoperative to operate the pump When'the vehicle is at rest, and pressure responsive 'means operative when 'the pump is operating 'to effect closingr of said discharge communication and operative when the pump is Stopped to effect thef opening of Ysaid discharge communication.

13 In a drainage system vfor draining liquid from the'interior of a refrigerator car or the like comprising a drainage communication, a valve operative to. either open or close' said communication, means yieldirigly holding Vsaid valve in closed position, yielding'means forholding said valve ope'n, an inertia actuated hydraulic'pump, operativewhen thevehicle is in motion and renered inoperative when the `vehicle is at rest, said pump when operative circulating Afluid under pressure, a movable'abutnent subject to and actuated by the pressure .o'fviiuid circulated bythe pump for rendering Asaid'means ineffective to hold said valve closed, and lmeans vfor relieving the pressure'of the circulating fluid acting on the abutment When the vehicle is at re'st for rendering said yielding means effective t'o hold said valve Open. CLYDE C. FARMER. 

